Dave McMenamin: Anthony Davis on the Nets’ moves: “…
January 24, 2021 | 6:17 am EST Update
NBA players want equity in teams
Speaking at a SporticoLive event on Tuesday, Roberts said that while players share in the passion for the game, and in the responsibility of growing the NBA’s multi-billion-dollar enterprise, “what we don’t share is having an equity stake in the teams.” “We’ve got a collective bargaining agreement that says we can’t [own stakes], and hopefully down the road we’ll make some changes,” she said. “The players will be the last to suggest that we want to see the game’s value, or teams’ values, in any way diminish, but it sure would be nice to be able to go to the party.”
The league is also making changes to make it easier to attract minority investors. Last year it greenlit Dyal Homecourt to raise money for a fund that could invest in multiple teams. Now it’s discussing an expansion of that program, where other institutional investors could gain the same right. “If [private equity investment] happens,” Roberts said, “I will have players complain bitterly that, ‘Wow, we helped create this wealth, we helped create this value, and some private equity guy can come in and I can’t?’”
One suggestion: Instead of giving equity to players themselves, give it to the union. That wouldn’t necessarily result in checks to individual athletes, but it would give the NBPA more resources to support players and their communities. Another suggestion: a structure similar to employee stock options, which are common in other some businesses. “There’s a way, in other words, for players to enjoy equity in these teams that may be non-traditional,” Roberts said. “It may be a little different from the way we do it on the private side, but I still think there’s an opportunity for us to talk about, think about and ultimately resolve what I believe to be an inequity in the system.”
Draymond Green: 'We got to find an identity as a team'
Anthony Slater: Draymond Green: “We got to find an identity as a team. Sometimes we move the ball, sometimes we don’t. Sometimes we defend, sometimes we don’t… Are we gonna be a ball movement team or an iso team?”
Connor Letourneau: Steve Kerr: “It’s going to take us 20 games to figure out where we want to be with our rotation. We’re at 16 now. … We’ve just had two bad losses in a row. We have to assess everything.”
Stephen Curry passes Reggie Miller for second-most career three-pointers
Wes Goldberg: And with that falling-away corner 3, Steph Curry has moved into sole position of second all-time on the NBA’s 3-pointers list with 2,561. Surpasses Reggie Miller. Behind only Ray Allen. Fittingly, assisted by Draymond Green.
Drew Shiller: -Reggie Miller’s son to Steph Curry: “I have all your jerseys and shorts.” -Reggie Miller to Steph Curry: “I know you’re chasing Ray (Allen). You are an inspiration to so many little ones … thank you so much for what you have done, my friend.”
“That means a lot, Reg,” Curry said. “I appreciate it. Like you said, I know I have a lot more in the tank. But try to live out all those — that competitive juice, the work that goes in, the appreciation of every game I get to play and to shoot the ball at this level, obviously doing a lot of other things, but to follow in your footsteps in that regard, it means a lot, so I appreciate the support. You and Ray have been — if I’m chasing any record, to have two guys that have reached back and encouraged me the way that y’all have means a lot so I’ll pass that torch on as well, but I appreciate you man. And thanks for all the support. It means a lot.”
